The industrial pig farm on Vicarage lane in Fernhill Heath already houses 1,000 pigs with the plans to double its capacity to 2,000. These pigs are kept confined inside in factory farm conditions with no outside access and therefore are unlikely to be able to carry out any natural behaviours. The farm is also directly next to a primary school- meaning that children as young as four are being exposed to ammonia and other toxic waste gases being produced by the farm. Waste gases created by factory farms can also mix with road traffic pollution, creating particulate matter- a substance that is dangerous to breathe in and can cause and exacerbate respiratory problems. This is not acceptable to be exposing anyone to, let alone very young children! The farm is ALSO opposite RGS playing fields and sports facilities, which also means that students attending this school and partaking in outdoor activities will be at risk of being harmed by the waste products of this farm.

It goes without saying that this is also taking place despite declarations of climate breakdown and the fact we are heading toward a mass species extinction. Factory farms play a huge part in both of these awful events- through greenhouse gas emissions, air/ soil / water pollution and the demand for deforestation created by animal feed. Within the last week- the Arctic was recorded as reaching its highest ever recorded temperature- we should therefore NOT be allowing further destruction and pollution! Lets stop the unchecked spread of mega farms across the UK and prevent the extension of this farm!